POWELL HAUS GROUP

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For Buyers

Buy the right house, not the first one

Craig works with buyers across Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and four states beyond. The job is not just finding listings. It is telling you honestly which of them is worth what they're asking.

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First-time buyers

Nobody explains this part

Earnest money, contingencies, appraisal gaps, and what actually happens at settlement, walked through before you need to know it.

Moving up

Two transactions, one plan

Selling and buying at the same time is a timing problem more than a pricing one. Craig sequences both so you are not in temporary housing.

Relocating

Across state lines

Licensed in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, so a move that crosses a border stays with one agent.

The Process

What buying with Craig looks like

Six steps. Most buyers are somewhere between three and eight months from step one to keys, depending on how ready they were when they started.

01

The first conversation

Before any listings, Craig asks what the move is for and what your timeline actually looks like. That conversation shapes everything after it, and it is free whether you hire him or not.

02

Financing, sorted early

A pre-approval, not a pre-qualification. If your credit or documentation needs work first, better to know in month one than after you've fallen for a house. Craig can introduce lenders, and will tell you if yours is doing a better job.

03

The search, narrowed

A saved search with alerts so new listings reach you before they spread across the portals. Craig also flags the ones worth skipping, which saves more weekends than the alerts do.

04

Touring and the offer

Showings grouped so you are comparing houses against each other, not against memory. When one is right, the offer gets structured around what the seller actually cares about, which is not always price.

05

Inspection and negotiation

Every report comes back long. Craig sorts the items that carry real money from the ones that are just an old house being an old house, gets quotes where it matters, and takes a short, specific list back to the seller.

06

To settlement

Appraisal, title, walkthrough, and the paperwork nobody enjoys. Craig stays on the timeline so the deadlines do not become your problem, and he is at the table on closing day.

Why Craig

What you get that you would not get elsewhere

Finance

A numbers-first read

Ten years in investment finance before real estate. Craig will tell you when a house is priced past what the block supports, and show you why.

Construction

He knows repair costs

Hands-on work in renovation and new construction means he can look at a dated kitchen or a failing roof and give you a real number, not a shrug.

Coverage

Five state licenses

Maryland, DC, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. One agent for a move that starts in one and ends in another.

Candor

He will talk you out of it

If the timing is wrong or the house is a mistake, you will hear that. The commission is not worth a client who regrets the purchase.

Start Here

Search homes across the Mid-Atlantic

Every active listing from the MLS, updated through the day. Save a search and new matches arrive by email before they hit the big portals.

Buyer Questions

Asked on almost every first call

What does it cost me to work with Craig as a buyer?
Buyer compensation is agreed in writing before you start touring, and the terms vary by transaction. Craig walks through exactly how it works on the first call, including what is negotiable and what is not. Nobody should be touring houses without understanding this part.
How much do I actually need for a down payment?
Less than most people assume, and it depends entirely on the loan product. There are also Maryland and Baltimore City assistance programs that many buyers never hear about. A lender conversation early will give you a real number instead of a guess.
My credit is not where I want it. Should I wait?
Talk first, then decide. Sometimes the fix is a few months of specific, targeted work and the wait is worth it. Sometimes the score is already fine for the program you would use. Either way, knowing beats guessing, and there is no cost to finding out.
How long does the whole thing take?
From first conversation to keys, most buyers land between three and eight months. Financing readiness is the biggest variable. Once you are under contract, settlement is typically thirty to forty-five days.
Can Craig help if I am buying in another state?
Within Maryland, DC, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, yes, directly. Outside those, he can refer you to an agent he trusts and stay involved on the sale side if you are also selling here.
Do I need to be ready now to reach out?
No. A good share of Craig’s buyers start the conversation six to twelve months out. Early is better, because that is when there is still time to fix credit, save more, or plan around a lease ending.

Free Guide

The Maryland buyer's checklist

A short, practical walkthrough of the steps most first-time buyers in Baltimore County and Baltimore City get wrong. No fluff and no sales pitch.
  • What to have ready before you speak to a lender
  • The questions to ask at a showing that nobody asks
  • Which inspection findings are worth renegotiating
  • Maryland and Baltimore City assistance programs to look into
  • A realistic budget for the first year after closing
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